Sounds like a click bait title?
Hear me out.
My experience of receiving praise.
Great job son. You could have done this better.
Praise was almost always followed with insult.
The “not good enough” trigger was reinforced.
Toxic? Praise? No, I don’t believe that.
I do know that positive praise freezes me.
To be told I’m good, handsome, talented,
is felt deep in my body. Paralyzing.
I await what comes next. What I can improve on.
When it comes I shudder. When it doesn’t I’m skeptical. Praise without some criticism?
On edge. Battling those demons. Battling the shame. Battling the triggers. Battling being in survival mode. Battling my thoughts. Battling my body that wants to deteriorate. Battling.
The good news is I’m battling. It means I’m in the fight. It means I’m alive. So the next time someone praises you. Stop and say Thank you. Let it sink in. Let it be genuine. Let it be!

MF